as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dogfight
The trouble is if that series goes sideways, the Mariners could still find themselves in a dogfight with the Rangers and Guardians for the last playoff spot.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
Following that incident, analysts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Turkish-Israeli mock dogfights, not unlike the recurring Turkish-Greek ones over the Aegean Sea, occurring over Syria, especially if Israel and Turkey’s opposing policies in that country diverge even further.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In a low, twisting, turning dogfight, the P-40 would lose.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
What used to be a season of racking up Top 10s and Top Fives is now a weekly dogfight for every position.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
Following that incident, analysts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Turkish-Israeli mock dogfights, not unlike the recurring Turkish-Greek ones over the Aegean Sea, occurring over Syria, especially if Israel and Turkey’s opposing policies in that country diverge even further.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In a low, twisting, turning dogfight, the P-40 would lose.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
What used to be a season of racking up Top 10s and Top Fives is now a weekly dogfight for every position.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight
Noun
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The Aggies have their own rivalry game on the road on the final weekend of the regular season to worry about.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
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While neither team made it to the World Series, their matchup in the wild card round added a new chapter to their rivalry.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Lima, Peru Reuters — Peru’s President Jose Jeri declared on Tuesday a 30-day state of emergency in the capital Lima and the neighboring province of Callao, saying the move was to battle rising crime.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Hubbard has a track record of moving the chains effectively, which was necessary in a game that was going to be mostly a defensive battle.—
Mike Kaye
October 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As the display came to a close, many fans expected to head back into the sixth inning of an intense 1-1 pitchers' duel.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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In the first half, England won just 50 per cent of their duels; Brazil won 80 per cent.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Only a few months ago Salah was deservedly collecting a stack of individual awards after a remarkable campaign which yielded 57 goal involvements (34 goals, 23 assists) in all competitions.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Courier Journal caught up with Zipperle to find out why Cornbread Hemp took home the New Ideas Award in the 2025 Top Workplaces competition.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Gravely’s presence accompanies the USS Ford carrier strike group, which was deployed to the Caribbean last week carrying fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, and surveillance planes.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Stephens said there were signs of a struggle, and Thomas' body had been dragged about 180 feet into the woods.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
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Passmore reflects on Shakur’s life and considers how her story highlights the broader struggles and resilience of Black activists whose work is marginalized in mainstream histories.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Rogers noted that the book argues that a central cause of the war was Anglo settlers’ determination to keep slaves in bondage after Mexico largely abolished it.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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In the five years just before war set in, these were among the dwellings that had beguiled Heinz Gaube (1940–2022), a German academic at the Oriental Seminar of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, the saga unearths new layers in the second season as Natalia shares her harrowing experiences with her adoptive parents and has a face-to-face confrontation with Michael.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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No one was injured during the confrontation, police said.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfight. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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